Winter weather chills US auto sales - The Detroit News
Pickups and utility vehicles provided an uptick for U. S. auto dealers in February, even as many makers reported lower-than-expected results due to frigid temperatures and lackluster sales of cars. That was up 5. 3 percent from a year ago, but down about 30,000 vehicles from what industry analysts expected. and others highlighted increases in pickup and utility vehicle as their main drivers for sales last month, as the sectors continued to outperform the industry by increasing 11. 8 percent in February. Car sales fell 1. 4 percent. Leading the way in February sales were Toyota, up 13. 3 percent compared to a year ago, thanks to truck sales increasing 20. 2 percent. Honda Motor Co. , GM and Nissan Motor Co. all reported 5 percent or less increases in sales last month compared to February 2014. Ford declined 2 percent due to falling car and utility sales. It reported sales of 180,383 cars and trucks in February. The Dearborn automaker’s car sales decreased 8. 1 percent and utility vehicles were down 2. 3 percent. “We would like to perform better in cars,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of U. S. marketing, sales and service, on Tuesday during a call with analysts and news media. Source: www.detroitnews.com
